Tour & Talk: Shangri-La
A report by BicPenLysolWipe in coordination with Softie.
Greetings fine users of Worlio.com! BicPenLysolWipe here to let you in on another exciting adventure with Softie, this time through wondrous Shangri-La for the 2nd installment of Tour & Talk! This time the details leading up to this one were more planned out, and much less sporadic than the first one was, which I hope contributes well to the "talk" aspect of such. I've also decided to begin posting these into threads as I don't think it quite amounts to the effort generally expected of a blog post, if we don't count what's copy-pasted from a chat log. As always, Tour & Talk is purely for informational purposes, which aims to provide readers with creator's valuable insights into worlds they built themselves, with their permission as always. I intend to remain as faithful as possible to the original chat I took from the gamma log I had available at that time, so if there any glaring grammar errors, that's just how it was, and I refuse to deviate from such to better showcase the authenticity of the conversation. Please enjoy reading the following chat log, thank you!
Softie> Hiya Bic. Welcome to Shangri-la
BicPenLysolWipe> Good afternoon Softie, thanks again for bringing me along for a personal tour of this wonderful place!
Softie> You're welcome. Well here we are at the front door :-)
Softie> I spent a lot of time here lol
BicPenLysolWipe> The moment of a great beginning for certain!
Softie> My mission was to create a building which could be 'walked round'.
BicPenLysolWipe> It definitely feels unique walking around each side of the building, always enjoyed that about this place!
Softie> Firstly .... I haev to say - none of this world would have been possible without Jimbly.
Softie> He spent four hours with me one Friday afternoon - around 18 years ago - teaching me how to build
BicPenLysolWipe> My regards to Jimbly for helping provide the foundation this house stands on today!
Softie> A month or so later he called me - his renegade builder lol. I was hooked
Softie> Anyway ... lets go ...
BicPenLysolWipe> This living room is my favorite living room on Worlds I think haha.
Softie> This is - the living room .. when I come here - all I can think of is ... windows
BicPenLysolWipe> It's so well detailed, especially for Worlds I think!
BicPenLysolWipe> I think the windows were really well done here!
Softie> Windows are .. sooo hard to do!!! To get them looking out in the yard WHERE you want them too .. well - I swore a lot in this room haha
BicPenLysolWipe> The hard work certainly shows, I'm sure the windows listened after a while!
Softie> and the sofas!! I wanted my own sofas SO ...
Softie> each one you see here is mae up of about 50, textured, tiny pieces of wall lol
BicPenLysolWipe> Definitely enjoy the unique sofas, I feel like I've seen them put in other worlds, or maybe similar, definitely a fine choice for this living room's style though!
BicPenLysolWipe> That's amazing, you put a lot of heart into the walls definitely in that case!
Softie> Kitchen next .. over here ...
BicPenLysolWipe> Mind if I ask a quesiton
Softie> wait .. that fireplace took me around a month to build lol
BicPenLysolWipe> Hold on I got it saved because I really wanted to ask about it, this fireplace is also very pristine I agree!
Softie> And the TV - is courtesty of Jimbly. He gave me the link to his TV
BicPenLysolWipe> I enjoy that Mario graces this tv screen near the right wall in the living room, what inspired you to use the picture of Mario from the cover of Super Mario World on the tv screen? Did you like the game, or maybe your kids did and you wanted to amuse them with Mario being on the tv, what's the story, if any, behind that?
Softie> Oh THAT TV.. Yes - it used to have a working MARIO game on it. Clearly the lonk doesn't work any more. I'll try to find a new working version.
BicPenLysolWipe> What really? That's awesome!
Softie> I meant this TV over here re jimbly lol
BicPenLysolWipe> I had no idea it had a working Mario game on it for sure.
BicPenLysolWipe> Yeah I saw what you meant by Jimbly's tv and I also like that one a lot, two tvs in a living room is very luxurious!
Softie> Kitchen?
BicPenLysolWipe> I just really wanted to ask about the Mario TV, I don't think anyone I know knew about that with the game haha.
BicPenLysolWipe> Yes certainly!
Softie> I WILL fix that :-)
BicPenLysolWipe> Awesome!
BicPenLysolWipe> This kitchen is also excellent, really enjoy the detail in this room for sure!
Softie> Not a lot to say here other than..... people from the US ask... what are those two machines?
BicPenLysolWipe> I thought those were dishwashers haha.
Softie> When I say that they're a washer and a dryer ... US people are horrified lol
Softie> We do that in the UK. They're in our kitchen haha
BicPenLysolWipe> Yeah, I've seen those kind before actually myself, but I don't think they're in typical households.
Softie> They are in the UK Bic :-)
BicPenLysolWipe> That's interesting to know for sure, I like that design a lot myself!
BicPenLysolWipe> I love the fan up here too.
BicPenLysolWipe> This dining room is to die for I think haha.
Softie> Here 's the very uninteresting dining room. Not a lot to say here other than ... the chairs, again, are in lots of pieces of wall lol. They're a lot of word
Softie> work
BicPenLysolWipe> I really like everything about it.
Softie> Lets go :-)
BicPenLysolWipe> It just screams fine work I think!
Softie> Thank you/
BicPenLysolWipe> You're very welcome!
Softie> Hallway one ...
BicPenLysolWipe> Oh boy!
Softie> First room
BicPenLysolWipe> I really like the lighting in those halls btw!
Softie> This room I made for my worlds friend SistaSledge!!
BicPenLysolWipe> I've always enjoyed this room too, the Egyptian setting has always looked quite mystical I feel!
Softie> She was the best fun!!!!
Softie> Her daughters are over here in these photos ...
BicPenLysolWipe> I had no idea this room was made for someone, she definitely seemed like an excellent friend!
BicPenLysolWipe> These are pretty cool portraits, gotta say!
Softie> I really miss her!!!
BicPenLysolWipe> I bet she was a lot of fun, especially with the Egyptian bedroom preference haha.
Softie> She loved her hot tub in her en suite over here lol
Softie> an her working showr lol
BicPenLysolWipe> This hot tub is a work of art for sure and I love how you did the showers in this place as well!
Softie> Want a quick shower while ypou're here Bic? It works!! lol
BicPenLysolWipe> Get my Pengo av's flippers wet perhaps lol.
Softie> YAY!!!
BicPenLysolWipe> hahaha
Softie> Over here on thr counter is her fav perfume in RL :-)
BicPenLysolWipe> I really enjoy the torch light too, great mind for detail with the lighting in here especially!
BicPenLysolWipe> I see, looks like a fine perfume bottle definitely!
Softie> OK... next room :-)
BicPenLysolWipe> The green bedroom, always feels so comfy in here!
Softie> This if the first bedroom I built in Shangr-la... and it was for my Worlds friend .. Vixen!!
Softie> Photos of her daughters are over here ...
BicPenLysolWipe> This is definitely a great first bedroom I think, look forward to seeing the other ones definitely as well!
BicPenLysolWipe> These look like fun photos for sure!
Softie> I looked after these two little girls in RL while their parents went on holday to Florida.
BicPenLysolWipe> That's awesome, I bet they had a great time as well!
Softie> There's a whole story attached to that but it probably wouldn't be appropriate to chat about here.
Softie> The girls are fine though :-)
BicPenLysolWipe> I'm very ok with that, glad to hear they're doing well!
Softie> There's a bathroom over here with a window that not ,any people spot lol
BicPenLysolWipe> I enjoy the glass windows a lot!
Softie> You'll see this winow again lol
BicPenLysolWipe> stained glass windows I should say!
Softie> Here's Vixn's av room
Softie> She loved this room
BicPenLysolWipe> Did Vixen make these avs herself?
Softie> I'm not sure. I just know that she changed into them I copied them to put here
BicPenLysolWipe> Ahhh I see, very fine dedication to their creations for certain!
Softie> Next hallway? lol
BicPenLysolWipe> I wanted to say real quick, love the laptop in the bedroom with worlds.com's site on it btw!
BicPenLysolWipe> It was Worlds.net back then yeah?
Softie> Thank you! That, again, took a while to build
Softie> Actually ...
Softie> There's a secret entrance in this av room which leads to my av room lol. I'll leave you to find that later if you' want to haha
BicPenLysolWipe> Ohhhhhh, I think I may know where that is!
BicPenLysolWipe> Was that it lol?
Softie> I figured you would lol
BicPenLysolWipe> Yeah I've been around this world plenty of times haha.
Softie> It seems so :-) I LOVE that!!
Softie> ok .. next hallway ?
BicPenLysolWipe> Sure thing!
BicPenLysolWipe> Yep yep!
Softie> Well, I call this room my bedroom lol
BicPenLysolWipe> This music is definitely calming for sure!
BicPenLysolWipe> I see the stained glass windows from the bathroom in here as well!
Softie> I may to to boast a lottle. I'll apologise in advance.
BicPenLysolWipe> You did say they would be here again haha
Softie> Yes!! I did sasy that you'd see that winow again lol
Softie> The four poster bed here ....
BicPenLysolWipe> I think the boastfulness is certainly deserved!
BicPenLysolWipe> I like the texture on the bed a lot!
Softie> Well, it took me around a month to build. The day after I built it ....
Softie> I was walking through here and was astonished to see around 4/5 renowned worlds builders all standing round the bed lol
Softie> Sir Gemini was there.
BicPenLysolWipe> Sounds like it was quite the fine masterpiece for its time, you definitely were ahead of the game sounds like!
Softie> Someone asked me how I managed to get ROUND posts on the bed as everything in worlds has edges lol
BicPenLysolWipe> That is very interesting now that you mention it, really adds to the bed's detail as a whole!
Softie> It was done with textures.. and textures alone. So yes - I felt proud. That was unique in the day :-)
Softie> ok .. please, do come and see the nursery
Softie> Come see the crib Bic :-)
BicPenLysolWipe> Sorry wanted to mention something real quick haha
Softie> Of course!!
BicPenLysolWipe> This nursery is definitely a well-crafted room, I like the calendar picture here a lot, reminds me of first grade when we had a similar one on our wall!
Softie> awww that's lovely :-)
Softie> I love the wallpaper here
BicPenLysolWipe> Reminds me of the one I saw in my preschool class a lot, definitely great for a nursery!
Softie> That makes me happy
BicPenLysolWipe> This is a nice crib room for sure, like the music here!
Softie> The crib here ... I counted one day - and I think its in around 100 wee pieces lol
Softie> Ready for a fun bit? lol
BicPenLysolWipe> Sure thing!
Softie> Lets go!!
BicPenLysolWipe> I love the design of this swimming pool!
Softie> Wedding beach?
BicPenLysolWipe> Sure thing!
BicPenLysolWipe> This beach is amazing I think, especially the boardwalk!
Softie> There have been many worlds weeddings here.
Softie> If you look up .. you'll see different coloured stars.
Softie> If you hover over them .. you'll see the names of worlds couples come up in little yellow boxes
BicPenLysolWipe> That's awesome, I don't think I can see the yellow boxes on the client I'm on, but I love that detail for sure!
Softie> They've all been worlds married here lol. I'd decorate this world just for them and put their own music choices on the jukebox lol
BicPenLysolWipe> There have actually been a couple of recent weddings here I recall!
Softie> There are lots of personalised vrsions of this beach
BicPenLysolWipe> Really? I had no idea they originated from this one!
Softie> Oh, really? I didn't know! I'd put a star in for them if I knew their names
Softie> Sincere you know my world so well, there's no point in going up the ramp to the moon, is there lol?
Softie> Since* oops!!
BicPenLysolWipe> I'd love to follow you up there if you wish to talk about it!
Softie> ok :-)
BicPenLysolWipe> I really enjoy the stained glass star and the blue static wall!
Softie> These flowers and the candle holders are from real life flowers and candle holder which I own lol
BicPenLysolWipe> That's awesome to hear as well, I was meaning to ask a question about that and related stuff actually!
BicPenLysolWipe> I've always wondered about this in regards to the impressive detail laying about. Was there any place you got your pictures of stuff like the food laying about and some of the plants, or did you perhaps use your own pictures?
Softie> I built this room the way it is so that people could sta 'evwennd(*) either side of the aisle instead of behind the 'event' the way it would be in a church with pews
*Author's note: Since this took me some time to figure out, I feel obligated to state that by "sta 'evwennd" she just meant stand on, in case anyone gets confused at that of course.
Softie> It really helped people who were in dial up back in the day lol
Softie> Nearly everything in Shangri-la is from pictures I've taken Bic. That's why it took me two years to build this world
BicPenLysolWipe> That's awesome with the idea being utilized to help those with a poor connection, smart design for sure!
Softie> Yes but Jimbly would say SOFTIE .. WHAT ARE YOU DOING?? lol He'd say people on dial-up can't come to your world!!!
Softie> I'd say to him .... Tell them to get WIFI!!!!
Softie> hahaha
BicPenLysolWipe> I also really enjoy that the textures are also entirely of your work! So much heart went
into this place, I enjoy that very much!
Softie> That's why he'd call me his renegade :-))
BicPenLysolWipe> I believe Jimbly was definitely right to possess such grace towards your achievements!
Softie> It did Bic. Thanks for saying that. My heart did go into building this world. It really did.
Softie> Day beach?
BicPenLysolWipe> Sure thing!
BicPenLysolWipe> This beach is one of the most relaxing places on Worlds I can think of feels like.
Softie> This beach is a tribute to The Red Arrows! They're an aerial aerobatic team from the Royal British Airforce.
Softie> If you look up, you should see them flying?
BicPenLysolWipe> I can see the planes in the sky, definitely a fine tribute to such a fine air team for certain!
Softie> Over here ....
Softie> There'sa clickable link to one of the pilots who crashed a few years ago. It was near where I live and I head it.
Softie> No need to click or linger Bic ... just wanted to share :-)
Softie> heard*
BicPenLysolWipe> This is a fine tribute for sure, very glad you showed it to me!
BicPenLysolWipe> This is the first I've heard of him, I'm sure he was a fine pilot!
Softie> The beaches are from photos of a beach near where I live.
Softie> i was there just last week :-)
Softie> Its odd being on a beach which I see in Worlds haha
BicPenLysolWipe> I love that detail a lot, definitely makes you feel at home for sure!
Softie> and that just leaves the PARTY BEACH!!!
BicPenLysolWipe> Wooooooo!
Softie> Oh wait.. I forgot to do the basement LOL
BicPenLysolWipe> Lead the way wherever you wish haha
Softie> I'll maybe leave you to explore that separately!!
Softie> Its up to you?
BicPenLysolWipe> I'm perfectly fine whichever way you prefer!
BicPenLysolWipe> It's your tour of course!
Softie> OK .. lets have quick run through the basement lol
BicPenLysolWipe> Excellent!
Softie> My av room first?
BicPenLysolWipe> Sure thing!
Softie> Welome to Softie's av room lol
BicPenLysolWipe> I always liked how many avs were just gathering in this room, like a women's social gathering haha.
BicPenLysolWipe> women's only*
Softie> I did this room this way 'cause I didn't underrstand why avs had to be lined up against a wall as if they're waiting to be shot lol
Softie> OK .. to the basement
BicPenLysolWipe> I really like the style of this av room for sure!
BicPenLysolWipe> Mind if I ask a question first?
Softie> No - carry on!
Softie> This is my Japanese room/
BicPenLysolWipe> The Japanese Room always felt so tranquil!
BicPenLysolWipe> I really like the design that went into this one, just like for Sista's Room as well!
Softie> I can't bein to tell you how much I enjoyed building this room. I learned a lot
BicPenLysolWipe> I somehow just now realized I could tp from the lower right map screen and what their names were lol.
Softie> For instance ... when I built the tea house here ...
BicPenLysolWipe> Hold on a sec, phone call
Softie> the floor coverrings in the tea house are called tatami mats
Softie> ok
Softie> I'll carry on with waht I was saying for now lol
Softie> I learned that in Japan ... when describing the floor area of a house / apartment ... instead of feet / kms ... they were described in number of tatami mats!!
BicPenLysolWipe> That's awesome, did you apply that attention to detail with the flooring perhaps?
Softie> In the tea house - yes! There are two sizes of tatami mats. I can't remember which one I used :-)
Softie> But its exact
BicPenLysolWipe> That's very interesting, were you in Japan to take pictures of these textures as well?
Softie> Ah - no! Good point. These photos I found online! But they were photos - not random textures
BicPenLysolWipe> That makes sense following in the theme of photo-based textures, they're very nice!
Softie> Next room?
BicPenLysolWipe> I have another question to ask on top of that one!
Softie> Sure!
BicPenLysolWipe> Is this also the same case for Sista's room?
Softie> The 'wall paintings' in Sista's room - SHE sent to me. She also sent me some of the textures she wanted me to use. The room was very personalised for her. It was up to me jow I used the textures she sent to me.
BicPenLysolWipe> Oh wow, so she was in Egypt at some point or she just sent photos she found to you?
Softie> I don't know who the artist is who created the paintings. I just know that Sista was very fond of them
BicPenLysolWipe> They were very exquisite paintings certainly!
Softie> It was a lot of fun... I'd build her room a bit and upload it .. she'd say - could you put that there .. and this here .. etc etc. We had SO much fun :-)
BicPenLysolWipe> That's awesome, I'm very glad she had a fun time with you in the process of you building
the world with her input!
Softie> I miss her :/
BicPenLysolWipe> She sounds like she was quite fun to have around!
Softie> You'd have loved her. She could ne so naughty too haha.
Softie> Sir G loved her too.. but frequently had to tell her off haha
BicPenLysolWipe> She would fit well with this current crowd then haha
Softie> lolol
Softie> next room? Not many to go now
BicPenLysolWipe> Sure thing!
Softie> OK :-) One of the doors leads to the tunnel so come this way lol
BicPenLysolWipe> I really like the walls for this room!
Softie> Och!! .. said in my best Scottish accent!!!!
BicPenLysolWipe> They have an interesting gradiant stripe pattern for certain!
Softie> This room's nothing really! Its here - waiting to be decorated for some world person who may request a room in shan gri-la back in the day lol
Softie> Lets move on lol.
BicPenLysolWipe> I enjoy the fact that you had it pre-decorated for such an occurrence!
Softie> Its not at all well decorated hahaha. Its begging for a tenant!!! LOL
Softie> lets go!!
BicPenLysolWipe> This has such a cozy vibe to it!
BicPenLysolWipe> I really like the textures in this one!
Softie> Doesn't it?
BicPenLysolWipe> The walls, floor and furniture are excellent!
Softie> This room, I built for a Worlds Member's daughter. I can't even tell you how excited she was to have her own room in Shangri-la!!
BicPenLysolWipe> Definitely a lucky lady for certain, you put a lot of hard work into it!
Softie> Her photo is on the wall over here!! She has red hair too:-)
BicPenLysolWipe> Definitely looks like they're admiring this room through the picture haha.
Softie> I did Bic but it was worth it 'cause it made her happy back then :-)
Softie> I think there's only one more room .. ready?
BicPenLysolWipe> Sure thing, excited!
Softie> Lets go!!
Softie> I think the other room is on hold in another version of my Shangri-la Bic lol
BicPenLysolWipe> Cool cool!
Softie> One thing I'd like to mention ....
Softie> Often, people refer to Shangri-la and my Party Beach as two separate worlds. To me - they're the
same world. The Party Beach is my back yard in terms of Shangri-la lol
BicPenLysolWipe> That makes sense in this case! I remember the previous iterations of Hide & Seek hosted by ewmaddie2069 and BelladonnaCove didn't count the beaches as part of the world, but I think Wirla was right to include them in his variant in this instance!
BicPenLysolWipe> variant of the Hide & Seek event*
Softie> He defifintely was. The only difference is ... my Party Beach is also a GZ
Softie> Its still part of Shangri-la though :-)
BicPenLysolWipe> Yeah, we don't count GZs as hiding spots unfortunately, but it would be a fine place to hide if we could I bet!
Softie> I'e enjoyed this tour. Thanks for being so interested. :-)
Softie> pop a v into that I've lol
BicPenLysolWipe> You're very welcome, I'm glad you could make through on an amazing tour of this world, truly appreciate it!
BicPenLysolWipe> take me through*
Softie> Any time!!
Softie> Back to GZ??
BicPenLysolWipe> Sure thing, thanks once again!
Softie> To you too Bic :-)
Thanks to everyone that took the time to read through this installment of Tour & Talk. Big thanks to Softie as well for once again graciously guiding me on a tour through another one of her magnificent creations, as always, words cannot express my appreciation for such kindness. Shangri-La is definitely a world I consider a staple world throughout Worlds' existence over the years, and I'm definitely honored to have been given many personal insights from Softie regarding each of the rooms as well. It's certainly a world I've always enjoyed touring, and to be toured through it by the original creator themselves was an absolutely unforgettable experience! The world itself has so much more than meets the eye, even with everything that's already in it, so I highly recommend readers to check it out in detail for themselves.
If any of you would like to explore Shangri-La, the worldsmark will be linked below for you to check out. Simply copy the link, open the WorldsMark tab in the upper right corner, click "Add new WorldsMark" on the top of the drop-down window and paste it into the provided pop-up address bar. To all of the readers on Worlio out there, thanks for reading, and have an excellent day!